The Mapcore Mod Team

[blackdog]

Well setting out to make HL3 is a bit daunting…

We should structure and release in episodes (ehrm lol ?) 

More seriously, every time I think of something big Half-Life I wonder if it would be worth working the cumbersome Source, especially considering that they haven't been taking Source 2 since, and the gravepine suggests it won't come (soon).

Since Valve itself is using Unity for VR, wonder if it'd be better doing something in Unity or UE like Vivi intends to.

I have been thinking of starting something smallish to learn UE, something that would be an HL tie-in (if Valve liked it) and that should be functional in VR too…

[Sprony]

9 hours ago, blackdog said:

Well setting out to make HL3 is a bit daunting…

We should structure and release in episodes (ehrm lol ?) 

More seriously, every time I think of something big Half-Life I wonder if it would be worth working the cumbersome Source, especially considering that they haven't been taking Source 2 since, and the gravepine suggests it won't come (soon).

Since Valve itself is using Unity for VR, wonder if it'd be better doing something in Unity or UE like Vivi intends to.

I have been thinking of starting something smallish to learn UE, something that would be an HL tie-in (if Valve liked it) and that should be functional in VR too…

We are continuing to use Source 2 as our primary game development environment. Aside from moving Dota 2 to the engine recently, we are are using it as the foundation of some unannounced products. We would like to have everyone working on games here at Valve to eventually be using the same engine. We also intend to continue to make the Source 2 engine work available to the broad developer community as we go, and to make it available free of charge.

[FMPONE]

A Mapcore mod would be interesting, but varying experience levels might make it tough. We have an abundance of level designers, but how many level designers does a mod really need?

I think it's entirely possible we could start with a core of users from this website, but trying to directly include everyone in the actual development process wouldn't really be feasible of course.

[Vaya]

29 minutes ago, FMPONE said:

A Mapcore mod would be interesting, but varying experience levels might make it tough. We have an abundance of level designers, but how many level designers does a mod really need?

I think it's entirely possible we could start with a core of users from this website, but trying to directly include everyone in the actual development process wouldn't really be feasible of course.

I was thinking about how this could work:-

4 core 'core members directing. These are the 4 people that ultimately decide what's being made- Art direction, Gameplay etc.

Anyone else interested sticks their name on a spreadsheet stating what they a interested helping with (level blockouts, art passes, scripting, story, gameplay etcetc) the 4 then form teams under themselves and delegate tasks as required- possibly have a tiered subforum where ideas can be discussed. It's at the 4's discretion what is delegated to who.

There should also be a disclaimer that any work they do may not be featured and final decisions lie with the core team of 4. I'm sure many on here want to help less experienced members but are also want to only align their names with high quality products. Might lead to some 'fat kid getting picked last for sports' kind situations but that's life.

[Sprony]

No, it wouldn't @FMPONE and those are good ideas @Vaya. Since private messages, different threads and what not are causing a lot of fragmentation, I'm going to keep it simple. I've searched for what Half-Life 2: Episode 3 would entail (for so far things leaked and were hinted at). I've also asked several pro's for advise and assistance. I'm going to facilitate the opportunity for this community to form a mod team and create an unofficial Episode 3. Whether this idea blossoms or withers and dies is up to you. Everyone who's serious, committed and highly motivated can send me a private message with their motivation, skill set and credentials.

That doesn't mean that others can't use this thread to find each other and create projects of their own, like @General Vivi asking for help with his VR-project. I'm just ending the endless back and forth of 20 captains trying to steer the ship. Now, let me repeat what I said in the opening post of this thread:

Quote

Perhaps by now you are thinking:"Who does this guy think he is? He's not designer, he doesn't have credentials to be a team lead!". True, I'm not a designer, I don't have credentials and I have absolutely no ambition of being a team lead. All I want is to facilitate this project. 

 

[FMPONE]

25 minutes ago, Sprony said:

No, it wouldn't @FMPONE and those are good ideas @Vaya. Since private messages, different threads and what not are causing a lot of fragmentation, I'm going to keep it simple. I've searched for what Half-Life 2: Episode 3 would entail (for so far things leaked and were hinted at). I've also asked several pro's for advise and assistance. I'm going to facilitate the opportunity for this community to form a mod team and create an unofficial Episode 3. Whether this idea blossoms or withers and dies is up to you. Everyone who's serious, committed and highly motivated can send me a private message with their motivation, skill set and credentials.

That doesn't mean that others can't use this thread to find each other and create projects of their own, like @General Vivi asking for help with his VR-project. I'm just ending the endless back and forth of 20 captains trying to steer the ship. Now, let me repeat what I said in the opening post of this thread:

 

On what engine?

I think we could easily make the number of HL2:Episode 2 maps necessary to create an unofficial Episode 3, but the question is would it find an audience? On an old engine like that, who knows.

[Sprony]

It has to be a version of Source due to all the stuff you need. It could álso be done on modified Black Mesa Source engine. Half-Life 2 modding is still alive and well. Maps and mods are frequently released and played. Plus, Half-Life 2 is owned by almost everyone and it still has a huge following. With the quality we have here, combined with Source/Black Mesa and the Half-Life name, I can't imagine that it wouldn't be able to find an audience. 

[tomm]

I'd also expect a rather drastic increase in visual quality in hl3 compared to hl2, so it wouldn't be just maps obviously, who's feeling like rigging and animating all those monsters/npcs? This could easily be underestimated and it's likely to fail because of that.

Better start with something small imo.

[text_fish]

My vote would go to using Black Mesa as long as HL2 specific assets such as combine, grav gun etc. are available in it. That way the project starts off with more toys to play with.

For my own part I don't think I have enough proven experience to take the lead on a map, but I'd be grateful of the chance to produce some assets and throw my two cents in to the design process. Working with talented, more experienced folk would be a great asset to my (pretty much nonexistent) portfolio.

I don't think the project would need to be massively more technically advanced than episode 2.  The main focus should be gameplay and story, rather than a visual overhaul.

Edited January 18, 2017 by text_fish

[FMPONE]

12 minutes ago, Sprony said:

It has to be a version of Source due to all the stuff you need. It could álso be done on modified Black Mesa Source engine. Half-Life 2 modding is still alive and well. Maps and mods are frequently released and played. Plus, Half-Life 2 is owned by almost everyone and it still has a huge following. With the quality we have here, combined with Source/Black Mesa and the Half-Life name, I can't imagine that it wouldn't be able to find an audience. 

A Black Mesa modification seems like a smart move. I'm sure those guys would be happy about it too. 

Not going to rain on the parade any further, but I think Black Mesa is a separate engine from HL2, the entities are totally different if I'm not mistaken, and a port would be a technical challenge of a large magnitude. Could speak to @JeanPaul on that front. Hard to imagine an "Episode 3" with no HL2 content.

[blackdog]

Being such a huge HL fan, I really like the idea of making content for it. I have in my drawer stuff for what was supposed to be the second chapter of Riot-Act, the add-on I collaborated on years back, and other stuff of mine I never developed. The HL2 world is so rich is not difficult to develop ideas for.

There is definitely an audience as well, there are a lot of mappers and community, and a great mod would surely ignite the interest... but taking over what Valve has been working for years? I don't mean to be negative, because I think we can come up with a great project, just worried it could be a big "waste"... in the sense that for as good as it can be, if Valve doesn't put a stamp on it, it can't be canon. And that would be quite sad.
So I would rather work on a spin-off. As short and with as much "bang" you can put in it. Valve likes it? You might get access to Source 2 and work on an approved sequel.

Flying too high?

 

6 hours ago, Sprony said:

We are continuing to use Source 2 as our primary game development environment. Aside from moving Dota 2 to the engine recently, we are are using it as the foundation of some unannounced products. We would like to have everyone working on games here at Valve to eventually be using the same engine. We also intend to continue to make the Source 2 engine work available to the broad developer community as we go, and to make it available free of charge.

 

 

Yes that's basically what I said. We expect Source 2 to be released but won't be for a long time. "HL3" on the old engine is not as exciting.

OT: @FMPONE I meant to PM but didn't get around to it... in the past you shared a couple shots of HL2 environment, you ever worked on that SP map again?

[dux]

Oh shit it's 2004. The biggest thing to come out of this would be a map pack for BMS.

[Sprony]

3 hours ago, Sprony said:

I'm going to facilitate the opportunity for this community to form a mod team and create an Black Mesa add on that tells a new story in the Half-Life universe. Whether this idea blossoms or withers and dies is up to you. Everyone who's serious, committed and highly motivated can send me a private message with their motivation, skill set and credentials.

Edited based on feedback. 

[FMPONE]

25 minutes ago, dux said:

Oh shit it's 2004. The biggest thing to come out of this would be a map pack for BMS.

BMS became a retail product that made a lot of money (??? assuming here). I guess you hate money too?

45 minutes ago, blackdog said:

OT: @FMPONE I meant to PM but didn't get around to it... in the past you shared a couple shots of HL2 environment, you ever worked on that SP map again?

I didn't do a very good job playtesting beforehand, so it sucked balls.

FOR THE RECORD: I wouldn't have an issue with helping to guide a "Mapcore BMS map pack". However, I'm quite busy with my own work couldn't commit to personally working on it. A "Mapcore mod", would have to develop from interest in many of you guys. All of you would have to steer the process and commit to working on it, it's not something that can be forced. It would take many committed people probably working very very many hours. Not an easy thing.

[dux]

Just now, FMPONE said:

BMS became a retail product that made a lot of money (??? assuming here). I guess you hate money too?

Yes? I don't fully understand what you are saying.